Indigenous undergraduate students who spent the summer conducting research alongside faculty mentors gathered recently to share their discoveries, experiences, and plans for further study during the eighth annual Indigenous Summer Scholars Program (ISSP) closing colloquium.
Thirteen scholars embarked on 12-week applied research projects in a variety of academic disciplines, culminating in the closing colloquium, held July 31 in the Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex. In addition to their research projects, the scholars also participated in weekly workshops and events over the preceding 12 weeks.
Being an ISSP scholar allows me to engage in hands-on, experiential learning.
Emily Fedora
One by one, the scholars stepped up to the microphone to share what they had learned since May 2, when they gathered for the 2024 ISSP opening ceremony at The Leaf in Assiniboine Park.
For some of the scholars, the closing colloquium was their first time presenting original academic research in front of a live audience. Elder Sharon Pelletier opened the special event with a prayer, blessing, and smudge, just as she had at the opening ceremony in May.
“It is inspiring to see how quickly undergraduates with little to no research experience become engaged and insightful contributors to their mentor’s projects,” said Dr. Manish Pandey, Acting Dean of Graduate Studies. “This shows the impact of creating meaningful networks in which students are given the space and support required to grow into researchers. Mentors guide, support, and encourage students on their research projects, and students in the program bond with each other, building connections that enhance their learning and foster a supportive community.”
Diverse crop of research projects
From fieldwork trips to lab analyses to theoretical adventures, this year’s research projects This year’s crop of research projects was diverse, highlighting the wide range of the scholars’ interests and the breadth of research undertaken at UWinnipeg.
The scholars analyzed Martian and lunar meteorites, investigated the formation of dark matter and black holes, probed the impact of parasites on fish health, learned about Manitoba’s food history, gathered Indigenous oral histories, researched the chromosomes present in dental pulp, and assessed factors contributing to youth homelessness.
“Being an ISSP scholar allows me to engage in hands-on, experiential learning on a topic that I am interested in and gain experience in conducting academic research, thus making me a more knowledgeable and competitive student,” said Emily Fedora, who was mentored by Dr. Mirjana Roksandic. “Over the past two summers of being an ISSP student, I feel that I have gained this important experience while being prepared for grad school through the beneficial workshops presented in the program.”
About the ISSP
Now in its eighth year, the Indigenous Summer Scholars Program is a paid summer research program that engages Indigenous students in their third or fourth year of undergraduate study in a variety of mentored research projects while they explore the possibilities of graduate studies. Students receive an award for their participation in the 12-week program.
The goals of the ISSP program are: to strengthen the pathways for Indigenous students to move into advanced study and, ultimately, into leadership in the academy and all sectors of society; to reaffirm the significance and centrality of Indigenous peoples, ways of knowing, and experiences at UWinnipeg; and to create a network of Indigenous scholars and allies on campus.
For more information, email issp@uwinnipeg.ca or visit the ISSP website.
